Advice on Photo

[Snausages01]

I really like this shot; however, it seems a bit 'bland' to me. Can you offer any suggestions on how to improve this shot, or does it look fine to you?

I played around a with it for a bit and I couldn't really get anything beyond what I all ready have without it looking over processed or just not looking good at all, but as I said I feel this shot is a bit dull. Perhaps it's just the colors and the fish and there is not much else that could be done with this paticular shot, but I do really like the shot and would like to improve it if possible.


Thanks,

 

[MCary]

Needs a better bokeh. The background is too defined. Draws your eye away from the subject.

IMO

Mike

 

[Blazer88]

I think it's a good pic but can be improved. Do you have photoshop?

 

[Ebn]

Some Photoshop editing would do wonders for that shot.

 

[gregr]

I humbly disagree about the bokeh although the coral (Psammacora?) is little distracting- not much you could do about that though aside from framing it out or cropping. Speaking of which cropping would probably help the composition. Do you have a full size version? I'll open the picture in Photoshop and see if I can do anything that will spice it up.

 

[thor32766]

sweet pic!

 

[Snausages01]

Thanks for the input, when I get some free time later in the week I'll try reworking it. Looking at the original I think I wen't too dark when editing it.

Here is a link to a somewhat fullsized JPG: http://www.lareefclub.com/images/Tailspot-Big.jpg

 

[scothew]

I played around a bit with it. Did some cropping, blurred a bit more on the background to bring emphasis on the blenny more and also used the spot healing to clear up some imperfections.

 

[Blazer88]

I don't really understand your crop above and why you would want to show so much space out of focus...? Here is my addition:

 

[astrogazer]

I didn't take a lot of time to play with this, but I agree that a little cropping is in order. I loosly applied the 'rule of thirds' to the crop, used PS tease a little more detail out of the mid-range and shadow areas. I know this is pushing the resolution of the image to the max, fortunately its end use is for the resolution friendly web.

 

[gregr]

I like all three of the crops- the one with subject down in the bottom right works for me- maybe because I have one of these fish and it perches like that all the time- the tiny master of all that he sees
Anyhow- my version isn't very different from the others. Cropped it of course, adjusted the color a little, removed some specs and smoothed the background a little:

 

[astrogazer]

Lol Greg ... I like the way you think ...

 

[scothew]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8444426#post8444426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Blazer88
I don't really understand your crop above and why you would want to show so much space out of focus...?

I'll try to explain my logic as skewed as it may be. Basically by doing it that way, to me at least, it gives the picture more depth. It shows more than just one level even though it is blurred more the farther back you go.

Also something I learned in shooting animals, action, people, etc is to give your subject some where to go.. like if they are headed in a direction, it shows the possible future, therefore giving the photo a bit more imaginative story. In this particular instance, it doesnt work quite as well since the fish is just perched and not acctually swimming, but the idea is still there. I'll post a better example below:

Also sometimes, again in my humble opinion, pictures with the subject completely centered just seem a bit standardized.

Here is the example from what I described below. I shot this at a training class I attended. Its kinda hard to explain really, but Scott Kelby explained it much better in this book, and it made tons of sense to me. The Digital Photography Book

Click For Pic: http://www.scothew.com/rc/gallery_34.jpg

 

[Snausages01]

Thanks for all the input!

My thinking with the original crop was that I wanted the blenny to look like he was perched in his spot looking down over the tank, but overall it just didn't do much for the image. I do really like the crop with the fish towards the bottom; I think it's because of the plate that is right behind the fish (adds more depth).

I ended up saving the crop on accident on the PS file, so I'll have to start from the beginning again. When I get a chance to redo the photo I'll post it back up.

Thanks again,

 

[Tyreef]

Great shots

 

[Ebn]

Bored at work so took a shot at it.

 

[RevHtree]

Heres mine for kicks.

 

[RevHtree]

One more try..

 

[redvipe2010]

Nice shot!

 

[ADA33]

Here is mine